It’s common knowledge that the Triad High School athletic director’s position has been a revolving door for the past few years.
Jason Malone feels he’s going to put an end to that.
Malone will take over as the Cardinals’ new AD during the summer months.
“My contract begins Aug. 1, but there is going to be a transition period this summer,” said Malone.
The district has gone through three athletic directors in the past five years.
Logan Dunn, who is Fairbanks’ athletic director, served in the position for three years.
He was followed for one year each by Jacob Neutzling and Nick Withrow.
Malone has been a fixture in the Triad district for basically his entire life.
He graduated from the school in 1993 and returned to teach after graduating from Urbana University.
Malone began as a full-time substitute teacher and has been a social studies instructor at the high school for a number of years.
He will step aside from that position to become the athletic director/dean of students.
“Each of our previous athletic directors had to drive pretty far to get here,” Malone said. “I live eight minutes from the school, my wife is a social worker in the district and my children are coming up through the system.
“I’m going to be around here for a long time… will probably retire from here,” said Malone. “I think I’ll bring stability to the athletic director’s office.”
Withrow is leaving Triad to take a position with the North Union school district.
“Nick lives near Marion, so North Union is going to be a lot closer drive for him,” said Malone.
Malone is very familiar with Cardinal athletic programs.
He was an assistant football coach for eight years and served terms as both the head coach for Triad’s boys and girls varsity basketball squads.
“I stepped away from coaching a couple of years ago,” said Malone. “I looked at the athletic director’s position from the sidelines.
“It was something I thought I’d be interested in when I got closer to retirement,” he said. “However, it kept popping up often the last few years.
“Greg told me he was going to be leaving, so I decided to apply for the position,” said Malone. “I went through the interview process and was named to the position.
“I guess it was meant to happen now.”
Malone said he has a great deal of familiarity with Triad sports and the people in those programs.
“I’ve developed a lot of relationships here over the years,” he said, adding he’s been a classroom teacher to many Cardinal athletes.
Not only does Malone want to bring stability to the AD’s office, but he also hopes to help guide Cardinal sports programs up the ladder of success.
“I want to change our recent athletic culture,” said Malone. “I want all of our programs to be competitive… I want our student-athletes to achieve success.
“It’s going to be a busy and challenging couple of months during the transition,” he said. “I know I have a great deal to learn, but we have great coaches with whom I will work.”